Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2999: Chris Christie to James Keady "Sit Down and Shut Up" - Body Language Congruent with .... (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

On Thursday, the two-year anniversary of Super Storm Sandy, Governor Chris Christie lost his temper during a speech with an audience member (James Keady) on the streets of Belmar, New Jersey. There were a multitude of nonverbal displays during this short video snippet of the event, yet the most telling one is discussed below.

0:55

Although Governor Christie certainly is feeling and displaying anger here (and most everyone who watches this video can see this), in this moment his primary emotion is that of contempt (which most everyone misses).






1:21 

A second, stronger contempt display

Few people can accurately define contempt. Contempt occurs in a social context in which one person strongly downgrades the character/value/morality of another person or group of people. Simultaneously the person projecting contempt feels they are superior.


Governor Christie's words and vocal qualities in this scene are highly congruent with his nonverbal signals - thus in these moments he has a high sincerity quotient. His words and paralanguage are contemptuous - and so is his body language. The vast majority of the time when we speak of sincerity, we frame it in a positive emotional context - this however is an exception, for contempt is a highly negative and disruptive emotion.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2998: Fugitive Eric Frein Arrested - Body Language Tells often mistaken

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2811: Jason and David Benham are Dropped from HGTV - Body Language of Subtle Contempt, Anger & Disgust

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2312:  Bruce Willis' Body Language -  Contempt vs. Suppressed Smile vs.  Pseudo Smile vs. Sincere Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2965: A Variation of a Microexpression of Contempt Commonly Confused & Disguised

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2674: Did Chris Christie Orchestrate Bridge Closure or Cover Up His Subordinates Actions? Body Language Tells Us ....

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2538: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language Tells regarding Shutting Down the Government and Telling us He’s Running for President in 2016

Nonverbal Communication Analysis No. 2612: Chris Christie 'Calls a Spade a Spade' (Well … Almost) - Body Language of the 2016 Republican Presidential Hopeful


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2253: Governor Chris Christie's Rant, his Body Language and a Highly Reliable Sign of Anger - and....

Today New Jersey Governor Chris Christie placed the blame for the - at least 66 day delay in disaster relief for victims of Hurricane-Super Storm Sandy squarely on the shoulders of the U.S. House of Representatives majority party - the republicans - and the Speaker of the House, John Boehner. In his rant he said, "There's only one group to blame for the continued suffering of these innocent victims: The House majority and their speaker John Boehner ..." 

Christie also said, "I think, unfortunately, folks are putting politics ahead of their responsibilities," he said. "It's absolutely disgraceful... It's why the American people hate Congress." as well as using adjectives such as "unprecedented" and "outrageous". 

At the 2:16 mark in the video above (and imaged below), Governor Christie displayed a classic and highly reliable signal of anger - lip compression. This particular thinning of his lips (not to be confused with the "Inward Lip Roll") occurs very briefly - almost as short-lived as a microexpression.

Emotions don't always exist in isolation. Not surprisingly, there is another nonverbal signal (indicating another thought-emotion) exemplified in the image below. It's also quite subtle. Can you spot it? What emotion does it betray?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt -  Microexpressions and Subtle Displays

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2100: Ann Romney's and Gov. Chris Christie's Body Language at  GOP Convention - My Guest Commentary on NPR - KPCC Southern California Public Radio  

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2174: President Obama, Hurricane Sandy, Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2222: Corey Booker's Body Language Indicates that  He does NOT want to Run for Governor of New Jersey

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1859: Prince William's Body Language shows Anger at the Queen's Jubilee

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1060: Bill Belichick's Body Language of Anger

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2138: President Obama's Anger-Frustration During Debate -  An Under-Appreciated Body Language Signal 

Negotiation Nonverbal Communication Secret # 1465: Santorum's Anger Eyes - White and Wide  Confrontation with Jeff Zeleny of  The New York Times 

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2175: Mayor Bloomberg, Body Language, Hurricane Sandy and the NYC Marathon

Update: Under growing pressure, Mayor Bloomberg has cancelled the New York City Marathon. The following post was from earlier today and offers some clues into the mindset of the Mayor at that time.

Many of the residents of New York City, especially the of areas most hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy, are particularly critical of the decision to go forward with the NYC Marathon so soon after the superstorm - this Sunday, 5 November 2012.

In this CBS video clip, Mayor Michael Bloomberg show nonverbal signals of apprehensions or worse, which are not consistent with his verbal statements. This is especially true when the Mayor displays a nose touch (1:09) after saying, ".... but we have plenty of police officers that work in areas that are unaffected ...." Facial MAPs (Manipulators, Adaptors, Pacifiers) - particularly certain ones such as a nose touch after making a definitive statement - especially in the high stress context of a press conference after a hurricane - are highly consistent with possible deception.

Another similar Anxiety-Possible Deception MAP is seen at the 0:45 mark after Mayor Bloomberg says, " ...it's a relatively small amount, it's the sanitation departments resources do it - and we have to have a city going forward ..." Here he scratches multiple times in front of and above his right ear.

At the very least, these body language tells stem from Bloomberg's own disbelief of and/or significant anxiety in a subordinate's statement or judgment.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2033: Lie Detection, Sergey Lavrov and Syria

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1861: Bashar al-Assad's Body Language Denial and Deception

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 731: Sharon Bialek isn't Telling the Whole Truth

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1907: Governor Rick Scott tells a Lie

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2156: Barack Obama's Body Language at Al Smith Charity Dinner - Comedy, White Lies and Facial Touching MAPs

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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2174: President Obama, Hurricane Sandy, Body Language and Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo

President Barack Obama and Governor Chris Christie are shown here at the Brigantine Beach Community Center in Brigantine, New Jersey on 31 October 2012 speaking with residents affected by Hurricane Sandy turned Frankenstorm-Superstorm. One notable nonverbal here is the President's, Thumbs Backwards Arms Akimbo. This body language combined with his feet placement a shoulder's width apart conveys a very alpha, dominant emotional tone. It projects power and authority.

The thumbs backwards arms akimbo is also commonly seen when the mind is made up and a person is ready to take action.

Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo has a completely different meaning.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 89: Silvio Berlosconi, Body Language, Karima El Marhrough and Opposite Facing Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 33: Zelda Williams & Thumbs Forward Arms Akimbo

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2034: Even Physicists have Body Language - Beta behavior at Higgs Boson Conference

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 831: Santorum's Hands and the Alpha-Beta Hybrid

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 14: High and Low Confidence Drivers - Arms Akimbo and Assertive Attitudes

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1867: Ann Romney - Demure vs. Assertive Stance

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt - Microexpressions and Subtle Displays




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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2173: The Presidential Election and the Independent Voter - Multiple Body Language Displays

In this CNN video interview/profile of an independent voter in Jefferson County, Colorado - we see in a few seconds a rapid succession of nonverbal displays. Corky Grimm, the bicycler and owner of the Green Mountain Sports shows us his true emotional tone. There's a multitude of body language examples in this story - here are a few:

2:10 - 2:11 - Left eyebrow and left forehead contracted and raised, Incredulity display

2:15 - 2:16 - Eyelids partially closed, concave-up furrow in lower eyelids, smooth and
                     uncontracted forehead, corners of mouth directed primarily upwards, only upper
                     teeth displayed - dynamic increase in crows feet - all indicate a Sincere Smile

2: 22 - Unilateral (left) closed mouth asymmetrical pseudo-smile, subtle left mid-face
            tightening, and although we can't see directly, indications of left nostril flaring all
            show Contempt

2:23 - Tongue protrusion, Anxiety display, possible Disgust component

2:23 - 2:24 - Lip compression (straight horizontal line) and lip thinning - highly indicative of Anger

2: 25 - 2:27 - Lower teeth display, jaw jut, jaw-teeth clench - all indicate Anger

This is a great example of the very rapid and dynamic nature of multiple nonverbals appearing in quick succession. Mr. Grimm has, like many, been through a lot in the great recession and, at least from what's his body language displays in this short video, does a better job than most at keeping his feelings concealed. Do you know who he'll vote for next Tuesday?

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2115: Prince Harry in Afghanistan - Incredulity and Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 1905: Ann Curry's Smile and Sincerity Quotient

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2168: John Sununu's Comments on Colin Powell's Endorsement of Barack Obama - Anger, Anxiety and Contempt

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2093: Ann Curry's Tearful Goodbye - Matt Lauer's Classic "Tongue-in-Cheek" and Duplicitous Smile

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2039: Fight Outside Florida Courtroom - Jaw Jut Prior to Violence


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Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2172: Governor Chris Christie's Body Language of Contempt - Microexpressions and Subtle Displays

Like most of the Governors of the N.E. United States, in the wake of Hurricane-turned Frankenstorm-Superstorm Sandy - New Jersey's Chris Christie has his hands very full. In this CNN interview with Piers Morgan, the Governor's body language displayed some interesting tells when Piers' questioned him regarding what he thought about some people being surprised by his strong praising of President Obama and the nonpartisan and collegial vibes this gave off. 

While there were several other body language signals in this video, Governor Christie displayed a microexpression of contempt at the 0:22 and again at the 0:42 mark and a much longer duration, but low-level/subtle expression of contempt during a good portion of the first 1:02 of this video. These nonverbal signals tells us not that Christie has contempt in this video for Barack Obama - but rather that he has contempt for anyone who would call into question his sincerity regarding his earlier praising of the President.

See also:

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2164: Mitt Romney's Disgust Display regarding President Obama's Relationship with Putin and Russia - ".... I'll give you more flexibility after the election ...."

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2058: DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's "False Contempt" & the Importance of "Norming"

Nonverbal Communication Analysis # 2146: Biden vs. Ryan Vice Presidential Debates - Both Candidates Displayed Body Language of Contempt

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